Sluka signs on as administrator

LONG HILL TWP. The Township Committee unanimously voted to
officially appoint Kevin Sluka of Jersey City the new township
administrator at a special meeting Wednesday, Aug. 15.

"Kevin comes from a great background," Mayor Walter Sadowski
said, touting Sluka's seven years as Jersey City's director of
public works and noting how that experience will be directed toward
the township's two new construction projects, the new municipal
building and library.

"He knows we have a very progressive government and the township
is at the point where everything is coming to a jell with the
purchasing of open space, the new athletic fields and the new town
hall," the mayor said. "He's going to help us bring that to
completion."

Sluka, 35, will make $80,000 as Long Hill's administrator, a
slight drop from his $84,000 closing salary in Jersey
City.

'Young, Energetic'

Township Committeewoman Suzanne Dapkins agreed with Sadowski.
"He read up on Long Hill, knew what was going on here and wanted to
work," she said. "He is young, energetic, ambitious and has great
credentials."

Sluka said he could not wait to begin his work, saying he wanted
to make sure that capital projects are done expediently and to keep
the taxes stable.

He was appointed to fill the vacated office which Joseph Manning
left three months ago for a similar position in Middlesex
Borough.

Some Long Hill residents supported former Police Chief Robert
Falzarano in his bid to become the new administrator, and expressed
disappointment when the committee said it would not appoint him due
to the township's anti-nepotism ordinance and the presence of his
brother, George Falzarano, on the Township Committee.

Robert Falzarano boosters were concerned the new administrator
would be someone who did not live within the community or would not
understand its problems. Manning continued to live in Maplewood
while serving as township administrator.

No Local Ties Not A Worry

But Township Committee members did not agree. "It does not worry
me at all," Koutsogiannis said. As an afterthought, he said it even
has its advantages, noting "it might be better not to live in the
township."

Koutsogiannis said such administrators might feel less pressure
to do favors for people in an effort to keep friends.

"Residency is always a good thing," Sluka said, though he added
he only has a 30-minute commute and for now has no plans to leave
his native Jersey City, where he attended St. Peter's
College.

"I want to thank all of you," Sluka said. "Thank you for the
opportunity to work with you. I'm excited and I can't wait to get
to work."

The appointment was the first of two major hirings in successive
weeks for the Township Committee. On Wednesday, Aug. 22, it was
expected to hire acting police Chief Michael Peoples on a full-time
basis, succeeding Robert Falzarano. He began work this month as
Chatham's borough administrator.

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Online Poll

In recent weeks, Long Hill Township and Watchung Borough passed ordinances allowing their police departments to be able to apply for surplus equipment from the Department of Defense. Long Hill recently procured a Humvee to use in times of flooding, which Watchung states as the reason they are getting into the program. However, in cities around the country, police forces have used the program to obtain military gear, such as weapons and armor.
For more background, go to the link below
http://www.newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/watchung-police-department-hopes-to-receive-equipment-from-department-of/article_12ad002a-92b3-5449-a2cc-4b2cf0ce4339.html